Half to the bouts



(No Model.)

J. W. PACKARD. BLANK FOR BOX TOBS AND COUNTERS. No. 516,832. Patented Mar, 20, 1894.

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6 IEIZI Z) Wwfimim-WL v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES W. PACKARD, OF- BROCKTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO THE BOUVE, CRAWFORD & COMPANY CORPORATION, OF

SAME PLACE.

BLANK FOR BOX-TOES AND COUNTERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 516,832, dated March 20, 1894.

Application filed April 20,1893. Serial No. 471,176. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know'n that I, JAMES W. PACKARD, of Brockton, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Blanks for Box-Toes and Counters of Boots or Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates wholly to stiffeners for boot and shoe uppers, such stift'eners be ing placed within the upper and used to support the same at the toe or heel.

The invention has for its object to provide a blank for a box too or a counter, which shall be more flexible at its lower portion, or that portion which is turned inwardly over the bottom of the last or inner-sole in incorporating the blank into the boot or shoe.

The invention consists in a blank having a row of perforations near its lower or inwardly-turned edge, the perforations being made inside of the margin of the blank, so that the continuity of the edge is not interrupted, the size of the perforations being such that enough material is removed from the blank at a point near its margin to make the blank more flexible than a solid blank would be, and thus-enable it to be more readily turned inwardly and conformed to the shape of the last, as I' will now proceed to describe.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification: Figure 1 represents a side view of a box toe blank provided with my improvement. Fig. 2 represents a view of a counter-blank. Fig. 3 represents a section on line 33, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 represents a similar section, showing the blank in the position it occupies when incorporated into the boot or shoe. Fig. 5 represents a section on line 5-5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 represents a view similar to Fig. 5, showing the blank in the position it occupies in the boot or shoe.

The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or represents a blank for a box toe, the same being of the .ordinary form, and of suitably stiff material,

such as sole leather or leather board.

In carrying out my invention, I form a row of perforations b in the edge of the blank which is to be turned inwardly over the bottom of the last in incorporating the blank into a boot or shoe. Said perforations are wholly within the margin of the blank, so that the adjacent edge of the blank is left continuous; and are of such size that enough material is removed, in making the perforations b, to give the edge of the blank suoh flexibility as will materially facilitate the operation of turning the edge of the blank over upon the bottom of the last in incorporating the blank into the boot or shoe.

Figs. 2, 5 and 6 show a counter-blank, the lower edge of which is provided with similar perforations b, the object being the same as in the box toe blank just described.

I am aware that the edges of blanks for box toes, counters, &c.,- have been nicked or cut from the edge inwardly, the continuity of the edge being broken'by the recesses thus formed, the object being to facilitate the inward bending of the edge of the blank. My improvement, however, presents a marked advantage over a blank having a nicked edge, because the edge is continuous, so that, if any of the lasting-tacks used to secure the upper and cap in place pass through any of the orifices b, they will still hold the edge of the toecap, because the orifice will entirely surround such tacks; whereas, if the edge of the blank were nicked or notched, a tack coinciding with a notch would not hold the blank, as will be readily seen.

I am also aware that the edge of a shoe upper of flexible material has been perforated to permit cement to pass through the upper, but a flexible upper thus treated is an essentially different article from a stiffener which is practically devoid of flexibility and has one of its edges made flexible by the removal of pieces or disks of the material.

I claim- As an improved article of manufacture, a boot or shoe stiifener blank, composed of a piece of suitably stiff material having one of its edges made pliable and flexible by the removal of pieces or disks of material fgom the blank within its margin, whereby the flexitwo subscribing witnesses, this 17th day of bllity of the marginal portion of the blank is April, A. D. 1893.

increased and said portion is enabled to be readily turned inwardly over the bottom of a JAMES PACKARD 5 last, as set forth. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my FRED M. BIXBY, name to this specification, in the presence of FRED D. ARNNETT. 

